This blog will discuss the five most common inaccuracies surrounding the popular plastic surgery procedure, the Mommy Makeover. By debunking these claims, readers can get a more accurate picture of this fantastic procedure and its benefits.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
Mommy Makeovers are combination procedures designed to enhance or restore a woman’s body after pregnancy or the natural aging process. Fully custom to the needs of the patient, Mommy Makeovers are characterized by incorporating multiple procedures in one surgical setting, using anesthesia only once, and with one recovery period.
Essentially, Mommy Makeovers are ideal for women who want a, well, makeover. By combining procedures such as breast lifts, abdominoplasty, and liposuction, your plastic surgeon will create a cohesive transformation that looks natural and stunning. But despite all these benefits, some patients are unsure about the procedure due to misinformation and myths surrounding the topic.
Below, we’re going to debunk the top 5 Mommy Makeover myths so readers can discern just how fantastic this procedure really is.
Want to learn more about Mommy Makeovers in the D.C. Metro area? Call one of our two convenient locations in Chevy Chase, MD, (301) 652-7700, or Tysons Corner, VA, (703) 560-2850 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons.
Myth 1: “You have to be a mother to be a candidate for a Mommy Makeover.”
The truth: Any woman who wants to combine procedures for a single operation and recovery process may be a candidate for a Mommy Makeover—not just mothers.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about Mommy Makeovers, largely due to the name of the procedure. Basically, Mommy Makeovers are combination procedures that aim to restore a woman’s body after childbirth, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. However, being a mom or having had children are not requirements for this procedure—it’s just a commonality that many patients have.
In fact, Mommy Makeovers are ideal for any woman who has multiple concerns she would like to address—the natural aging process can take its toll on the breasts, abdomen, and body whether you have children or not.
Myth 2: “Mommy Makeovers are just tummy tucks and breast procedures.”
The truth: Patients can choose any combination of procedures they and their surgeon agree upon.
This myth is likely in reference to common procedures involved in a Mommy Makeover, and while it’s true that many patients do choose to include abdominoplasty along with some form of breast enhancement, the reality is this procedure is by nature highly customized to the needs of the patient.
Consider this: gravity, aging, weight fluctuations, pregnancies, and more all have an effect on the breasts. This is why many women want a breast lift or breast augmentation included in their Mommy Makeovers; breasts change with time, and many women have a strong idea of their ideal breast aesthetic. But this isn’t all to say that you have to choose a breast procedure—you can choose what will make you happy and give you the result that you want. Some less “traditional” procedures include labiaplasty, which is an increasingly popular feminine rejuvenation procedure that greatly improves women’s confidence and quality of life.
Myth 3: “Mommy Makeovers have long and painful recovery periods.”
The truth: Combining multiple procedures in one surgical setting results in one recovery period, which actually saves the patient time compared to having each procedure in separate operations.
Imagine you know you want a breast lift and abdominoplasty, but you’re not sure you want them performed at the same time in a Mommy Makeover. You will have two separate surgeries with two separate recovery periods, each with two to three weeks of downtime, for a total of six weeks of downtime. If the surgeries are performed at the same time, your treatment areas will heal simultaneously, resulting in a shorter recovery period.
The reality is that all surgical procedures, even elective surgeries like Mommy Makeovers, carry some risk and require patience through the recovery process. Undergoing a Mommy Makeover is a big decision, but under the guidance of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, the procedure is no more painful or difficult than any other.
Myth 4: “Mommy Makeovers leave extensive scarring.”
The truth: All plastic surgery procedures leave scars. Mommy Makeovers don’t leave worse or more extensive scars than the individual procedures.
Your scars will be a result of where the incisions are placed on your body. Each procedure has variations as to where incisions are made and how big they are, much of which is determined by the technique used to reach the goals of the patient. For example, breast lifts are very common procedures for Mommy Makeovers, and they involve specific incisions that relate to the level of necessary revision: if you need more sagging corrected, you’ll likely need a larger incision and, thus, a larger scar.
Now, all that is not to say that you will absolutely have large, visible scars after your Mommy Makeover—you likely won’t. Scarring post-surgery has to do with a few factors, many of which are in your control as the patient. So while our surgeons do their part by only making incisions where absolutely necessary, choosing the least visible option whenever possible, and making precise, excellent sutures, you can do your part by caring for your incisions according to your surgeon’s instructions, incorporating scar care as soon as possible, and avoiding sun exposure.
All in all, with proper care, your Mommy Makeover scars will be easily hidden and will fade with time.
Myth 5: “Mommy Makeovers don’t last.”
The truth: All the procedures commonly performed in a Mommy Makeover are intended to be long-lasting or permanent, barring changes made to the body or subsequent pregnancies.
The changes made to the body during surgery are permanent: liposuction removes fat cells permanently, skin removed during a tummy tuck won’t grow back, and breast enhancements are intended to be long-lasting.
However, life happens. Your body will continue to age, so you may see subsequent changes even after your procedure. Weight and hormone fluctuations also may affect your results, but usually in severe cases. Gaining a large amount of weight, for example, may stretch out your abdominal muscles again, reversing a tummy tuck. Subsequent pregnancies, too, will likely affect your initial Mommy Makeover results, potentially requiring another procedure.
With proper care, diet and exercise, and no additional pregnancies, you will be able to enjoy your Mommy Makeover body for years to come.
Ready to Learn More About Mommy Makeovers in Washington, D.C.?
Center for Plastic Surgery provides patients from the D.C. Metro Area, Tysons Corner, and Chevy Chase with unparalleled surgical results, standards of safety, and patient care. Our board-certified plastic surgeons are highly trained and experienced and always put the needs and desires of the patients first. If you want to learn how our experts can create your dream body with a custom Mommy Makeover, call one of our two offices to schedule a consultation.
Tysons Corner (703) 560-2850
Chevy Chase (301) 652-7700